University of the State of New York Bulletin 


Entered as second-class matter August 2, 1913, at the Post Office at Albany, 
N. Y., under the act of August 24, 1912. Acceptance for mailing at 
special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, act of 
October 3, 1917, authorized July 19, 1918 


Published Fortnightly 


a ee SS a eS A 
a No. 869 ALBANY, N. Y. February 1, 1927 
g 
rye 






D 
‘M4 Bud 
hoBEP 


-HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS 
OF NEW YORK STATE 


i 
ANETTE M, PHELAN 
| THE LIBRARY GF THE 
SEP 1 7 4999 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
i 
% 


ALBANY 
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK PRESS 


1926 
G198r-N26-1 10(5190): 


THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 


Regents of the University 
With years when terms expire 


1934 CHEsTER S. Lorp M.A., LL.D., Chancellor - - Brooklyn 
1936 ADELBERT Moot LL.D., Vice Chancellor - - ~- Buffalo 
1927 ALBERT VANDER VEER M.D., M.A., Ph.D., LL.D. Albany 
1937 Cuarces B. ALEXANDER M.A. ebay, Tie 


Litt D. - - - - - - - - - - - = - Tuxedo 
1928 WaLTER Guest Kettoce B.A., LL.D.- - - - Ogdensburg 
1932 James Byrne B.A., LL.B., LL.D. - - - - - New York 
1931 Tuomas J. Mancan M.A., LL.D. - - - - - Binghamton 
1933 Wittiam J. WALLIN M. A. - - - - - - Yonkers 
1935 Wittram Bonpy M.A., LL.B., Ph.D., D. C. L. - New York 
1930 Wittram P. BAKER B.L., ites D. - - - - - Syracuse 
1929 Ropert W. Hicpre M.A.- - - -.- - - - Jamaica 
1938 Rotanp B. Woopwarp B.A. - - - - - - - Rochester 


President of the University and Commissioner of Education 


FRANK P. Graves Ph.D., Litt. D., L.H.D., LL.D. 


Deputy Commissioner 


Avucustus S. Downinc M.A., Pd.D., L.H.D., LL.D. 


Counsel 


ERNEST E. Cote LL.B. 


Assistant Commissioner for Higher and Professional Education 


JAMEs SuLtivan M.A., Ph.D. 


Assistant Commissioner for Secondary Education 


Georce M. Wirey M.A., Pd.D., LL.D. 


Assistant Commissioner for Elementary Education 


J. Cayce Morrison M.A., Ph.D. 


Director of State Library 


James I. Wyer M.L.S., Pd.D. 


Director of Science and State Museum 


CHARLES C,-ADAMS M.S. 4Ph.D oleae 


Directors of Divisions 
Administration, LLoyp L. CHENEy B.A. 
Archives and History, ALEXANDER C, Frick M.A., Litt. D., Ph.D. 
Attendance, 
Examinations and Inspections, AVERY W. SKINNER B.A., Pd.D. 
Finance, CLARK W. HALLIDAY 
Law, Irwin Esmonp Ph.B., LL.B. 
Library Extension, ASA Wynxoop M.A., M.L.S. 
School Buildings and Grounds, FRANK H. Woop M.A. 
Visual Instruction, ALFRED W. ABpraAms Ph.B. 
Vocational and Extension Education, Lewis A. Witson D.Sc 


= 
NYE x (2 
“Mh. § 69-37) 


University of the State of New York Bulletin 


Entered as second-class matter August 2, 1913, at the Post Office at Albany, 
Y., under the act of August 24, 1912. Acceptance for mailing at 
special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, act of 
October 3, 1917, authorized July 19, 1918 


Published Fortnightly 
No. 869 ALBANY ,“NF¥: February 1, 1927 


HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS 
OF NEW YORK STATE 


BY 
ANETTE M. PHELAN 


GENERAL VIEW 


This paper is a report of observations of health education in the 
public schools of nine communities of New York State made 
between November 30 and December 18, 1925. 

. The State Department of Education selected the cities and made 
arrangements for the visits. The places visited were Binghamton, 
Johnson City, Elmira, Ithaca, Jamestown, Rochester, Syracuse, 
Utica and Schenectady. 

Purpose 

The purpose of the visits was to discover where good work in 
health education was in progress; of what the work consisted; 
where the emphasis was being placed; how the work was adminis- 
tered and supervised; and what factors were contributing to its 
success. 

The?Plan?'? « 


The plan followed in the observations included: 


1 Conferences with administrative and supervisory officers and 
teachers to understand the school policy regarding health education. 


2 A view of school buildings and grounds for impressions as to 
adequacy, ventilation, cleanliness, facilities for play, etc. 


3 A view of the medical, dental, nursing and clinical service to 
ascertain tendencies toward thoroughness, educational values and 
effectiveness in follow-up work. 


4 Conferences with the person or persons responsible for health 
education organization to understand the point of view, the objec- 
tives and the relation of the health education program to the rest 
of the work in the school. 


+ THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 


5 Classroom visits to learn the teacher-pupil relationship, the 
emphasis in health teaching, the methods used, etc. 


6 Tests given to the low fifth grade to secure a sample of health 
knowledge at the command of the children of the grade, and the 
habits and attitudes developed. 


Explanation of Terms 


For the sake of clearness in this report, let it be understood that 
when the terms “ health service,” “health education” and “ physical 
education” are used, the distinction between them is that made by 
Thomas D. Wood M.D., adviser in health education, Teachers Col- 
lege, Columbia University. Doctor Wood explains the terms as 
follows: 


1 Health service includes the various protective measures to 
be conducted by the school for the conservation and improvement 
of the health of the pupils. These measures and procedures do not 
primarily involve the knowledge, responsibility, or activity of pupils 
themselves. 

a Health examinations. These include the monthly weighing of 
school children, and other factors required for the periodic health 
examination which should be made for every pupil at least once a 
year. Health examinations should include attention to the physical, 
mental, emotional and personality health of pupils. 

b Correction of remediable health defects. Some of these defects 
may be corrected in the elementary school, such as (1) certain 
conditions of malnutrition; (2) functional defects of posture and 
other orthopedic defects; (3) defective mental and emotional habits. 
The more serious health defects, requiring medical and surgcial 
treatment, must be given attention outside of the school. 

c Daily health inspection. This part of health service is to dis- 
cover whether the child is in good enough health to be in school 
that day, and to determine whether the pupil shows signs of health 
disturbance indicating the possibility of his conveying to other pupils 
some form of communicable disease. Daily health inspection should 
be differentiated from daily health habit inspection. 

d School sanitation. This is concerned with the school plant and 
its surroundings in construction, equipment and maintenance. 

. é€ First aid and safety 

f Immunization of school children against infectious and com- 
mwunicable diseases. It is recognized today that protection of. chil- 
dren by isolation, quarantine and forms of immunization against 
communicable diseases are as important for the life and health of 


HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS 5 


the child as the entire range of personal health habits and other 
phases of personal hygiene. 

g The hygiene of instruction 

h Health of teachers, janitors or custodians, and other school 
officials and employees 

2 Health education is the sum of experiences in school and 
elsewhere which favorably influence habits, attitudes and knowledge, 
relating to individual, community and racial health. 

3 Physical education includes the fundamental psycho-motor 
activities, or the big brain-muscle activities, which are valuable in 
the growth and development of the child in the preschool age, as 
well as in the period of elementary instruction. 

Physical education is the contribution made to the complete edu- 
cation of the child in the preparation for life by the fundamental 
big brain-muscle activities including play, games, athletics, gymnas- 
tics, dancing, pantomime, dramatic activities, swimming, hiking, 
camping, scouting activities and similar programs. 

Physical education also logically and practically should recognize 
and include general life activities, practical work, industrial or social 
service activities, such as gardening, farming, housekeeping etc., if 
they are big brain-muscle activities and if they are healthful and 
educative. 

From the distinction pointed out by Doctor Wood, it will be seen 
that the direct responsibility for health service rests with the highly 
trained specialist group of doctors, dentists and nurses on one hand, 
and on the other upon the school administration. Both groups are 
concerned with the problem of providing an environment for the 
child and promoting a condition of the child favorable to health. 

It must also be evident that the responsibility for the health 
education of the child rests with the classroom teacher, acting either 
on her own initiative, without assistance or support from principal 
or supervisor, or working in accordance with an accepted plan for 
the individual school or the school system, with assistance of prin- 
cipal, supervisor or special subject matter teacher, or all. 

It will be seen, furthermore, that the responsibility for physical 
education rests with another group of trained specialists in a posi- 
tion to render a specific type of health service, and upon whom 
rests the same obligation for observing the principles of hygiene of 
instruction as rests upon every other teacher of the child. 

In hygiene of instruction are included : 


6 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 


1 An atmosphere created by the teacher in the classroom, favor- 
able to enjoyment of work, vigorous effort culminating in success, 
and respect for personality and development of initiative. 

2 A daily program furnishing a balance of mental and physical 
activity and frequent periods of relaxation. 

3 Stimulating tasks suitable to the capacity of the child and in 
which there is a reasonable opportunity for success, with an adequate 
pian for attack and freedom to express personality in executing 
the plan. 

4 Opportunities for the child to exercise his powers, physical, 
mental and social, without overstimulation or strain. 

5 Equipment and materials such as books, charts etc., selected 
with a view of safeguarding the child from strain or other conditions 
unfavorable to health. 


General Information 


Policy of the administration and its influence on the health 
education program. On the whole the reaction of the school 
administration toward health education was friendly. In a small 
percentage of cases the attitude was one of tolerance. Frequently 
the confusion of the terms “ health education,’ “ health service ” 
and “ physical education” in the minds of the administrative officers 
was apparent, and a corresponding vagueness regarding the activi- 
ties within these three fields. Where this was found, there was a 
general tendency to consider the attention accorded health service 
or physical education adequate to meet the health needs of the child. 
When this view extended to principal and classroom teacher, its 
influence was frequently evident in a lack of appreciation of the 
principles of hygiene of instruction and a failure to utilize classroom 
situations to develop in the child a sense of responsibility for pro- 
moting his own health and the health of others. 

It was indeed gratifying to find that a few of the superintendents 
had been thinking the problem through and had arrived at the con- 
clusion that health education can not be dismissed with the allotment 
of a 30-minute period a week to formal instruction in health knowl- 
edge, but because of its significance in the intellectual and social 
life of the child it must, to be effective, permeate the whole school 
program, showing itself as health values in the various classroom 
activities. 

Where these superintendents have been able to instil in their 
supervisors, principals and teachers an appreciation of this con- 
ception of health education, its influence was felt alike in a greater 


HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS i 


respect for hygiene of instruction, a fuller utilization of subject 
matter and all classroom activities for developing attitudes and 
habits favorable to health. 


Buildings and grounds. Overcrowding was evident in only 
two of the school buildings visited. As a result or a corollary of 
the overcrowding, the sanitary conditions were also undesirable. On 
the whole, the buildings. were conveniently located, well-lighted and 
clean. Many of them were vacuum cleaned. ‘The facilities for 
good ventilation were apparently in use in most of the schools. The 
visits were made in December during warm rainy weather. ‘This 
may have accounted for the fact that while most of the classrooms 
posted temperature readings four times a day, the readings hovered 
about 70 degrees. It should be borne in mind that one of the 
important recommendations of the New York State Commission on 
Ventilation was that the temperature of the school room be not 
allowed to rise above 68 degrees. 

Playgrounds were provided at or near most of the schools. 
Because of the damp weather, or for some other equally good reason, 
all the play periods visited were devoted to plays and games indoors. 

Most of the programs provided for relaxation periods. Those 
observed usually were devoted to setting up drills. 

Status of health education in the elementary schools. New 
York requires by law that 30 minutes a week be devoted to health 
teaching in the elementary school. The law is interpreted literally 
in many of the school systems, and a 30-minute period a week is 
frequently the full amount of time given the subject. Too fre- 
quently the situation was met by the teacher devoting 30 minutes 
once a week to formal instruction in health knowledge, including 
a little anatomy, a little physiology, some well-meant advice on what 
ene should or should not do, and a description of evils resulting 
from doing the wrong thing. 

A woeful lack of good materials of instruction in health was 
apparent, for these lessons were often overrunning with negative 
teaching and included too many scientific inaccuracies. 

In many of the lessons observed there was a sincere effort to 
make the teaching carry over into habits for the pufpose largely of 
meeting future needs. 

Some desirable situations and tendencies observed. 1 A pro- 
gram of school athletics planned for the entire high school, and 
participation in it by the majority of the pupils. 

2 Several attempts to make controlled studies of methods of 
health education. 


8 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 


3 A director of the elementary school together with a committee 
of classroom teachers and specialists making a study of opportunities 
for correlation of health education with other subjects of the elemen- 
tary school. 

4 A primary supervisor working on an integrated course of study 
including health education in the kindergarten and first grade. 

5 An elementary school teacher, who had been in service over a 
quarter of a century, doing some splendid work on correlation of 
health education with other school subjects. 

6 A growing recognition of the constructive value of the service 
of the classroom teacher in the program of health education. 

7 Among certain groups of principals and teachers, a growing 
recognition of the need for something more than formal instruc- 
tion in health knowledge, if the elementary school is to meet its 
responsibilities towards health education. 

8 A growing recognition, by people working in the schools, of 
the importance to any school health program of the health standards 
of the community and the facilities for health education offered by 
that community. 

9 A supervisor of junior high school together with the junior 
high school principals at work upon a program for the promotion 
of the physical, mental and social health of the junior high school 
pupils. 

10 A tendency among medical examiners and school principals to 
express dissatisfaction with anything less than a thorough physical 
examination followed by effective work in removal of physical 
defects. 

11 An appreciation among some of the medical examiners of the 
increased educational possibilities of the physical examination when 
the parent or classroom teacher is present. : 

12 Interest of many classroom teachers in a better understanding 
ot the health condition of the pupils in their care. © 

13 Interest of many classroom teachers in improving the char- 
acter and widening the scope of their own knowledge of health 
education. 

14 Interest of many classroom teachers in materials of instruction 
on health education adapted to the elementary school. 

Tests. Health Knowledge. One objective of the study of health 
education in the State was to obtain a sample of the health knowledge 
at the command of the children in the elementary school. 

The Gates-Strang Health Knowledge Test, Form I, for grades 
3 to 12, was used. This test consists of 64 items of health knowl- 


HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS 9 


edge. Each item is so expressed that the child is obliged to select 
the most reliable statement from among five. 

The following sample will illustrate the test: 

We should have fresh air 

eae all the time 

Pe. in daytime but not at night 

ied at night but not in daytime 

Bt ake especially in summer 

La when we begin to get a headache 

The child is instructed to read all five answers and then place a 
check on the dotted line preceding the one best answer. The number 
of right answers constitutes the child’s score. 

The low fifth grade was selected as the place in the elementary 
school in which the health knowledge would be sampled. ‘The test 
was given to 223 children in seven classes. In cities where the 
director of health education had made plans for using the identical 
test later on, the test was omitted. The principals, the teachers 
and the children were interested and gave evidence of a fine spirit 
of cooperation. On the whole, children appeared to enjoy the test. 

One hundred sixty-one children, or 72 per cent of the number 
tested, made scores equal to or above 31, the actual mean score for 
the low fifth grade as determined by the authors of the test. The 
top 5 per cent of the children had scores ranging from 48 to 51]. 
The scores of the bottom 5 per cent ranged from 15 to 22. The 
accompanying graph shows the distribution of scores. Sixty-four 
is a perfect score for the twelfth grade. 

The children’s reactions to separate items of health knowledge 
were then observed. Assuming according to elementary school 
practice that when 75 per cent of a class gave the correct answer 
to any specific item, the knowledge tested was at the command of 
the class as a whole, one might infer that the low fifth grades tested 
knew 25 of the 64 items of the test. 

The knowledge incorporated in these items and assumed to be at 
the command of the low fifth grades may be summarized as follows: 


1 ea a and growth 
a Children should eat at regular times. 
b Children should sit down at the table and eat slowly. 
c Pale, thin children should eat milk, bread and butter, and 
spinach. 
d Hot cereal is a good food for breakfast. 
e Milk is a most important food for children. 
f Orange juice is a healthful drink for children. 


THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 


No. of 
scores 
4o 
oe 
Sb 
34 


32 







So 
28 
2b 
24 
22 
20 


18 





Actual 
~ W- *3- 29- 31- ¥§- 39- B- 47- 
sc ores cee Oia 26 380 34 38 4h 46 
Scores made in Gates-Strang Health Knowledge Tests in 
the low fifth grades of six cities of New York State 


Highest possible score, 64 
Number of children tested, 223 





HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS ll 


2 Sanitation and care of food 
a Food should be protected from flies because they carry 
germs. 
b Cooked meat and vegetables should be covered and kept 
in a cool place. 
3 Control of communicable disease 
a There is less danger of giving a cold to someone else if 
the face is covered when one sneezes or coughs. 
4 Fresh air 
a The best way to get fresh air is to go outdoors in the 
sunshine. 
5 Sleep 
a Long hours of sleep keep children well. 
b Best way to sleep is under light warm covers with the 
window open top and bottom. 
6 Safety 
a Children should learn to swim in order to prevent acci- 
dents in the water. 
b In games, children should be careful not to trip or hit 
each other. , 
7 First aid 
a When a child gets a cinder in his eye, it is best to have 
it taken out by someone who knows how. 
S Posture 
a A good way to learn to sit well is to select chairs and 
desks at school of just the right size and shape. 
9 Clothing 
a In the morning clothing should be selected for its suita- 
bility to the weather. 
b Loose clothing is best. 
10 Emotional 
a When a child gets a low mark at school, it is a good 
thing to ask teacher’s advice and follow it. 
b It is a good thing to feel happy and comfortable at meal 
time. 
11 Care of the teeth 
a Everyone should visit a dentist twice a year. 
12 Care of the eyesight 
a When a child needs glasses he should have an eye doctor 
fit them to his eyes. 
It is hardly safe to assume that all low fifth grades have the 
foregoing knowledge at their command. In fact, the variation in 


12 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 


the degree to which any item might be said to be mastered was very 
marked between the individual schools. In one school the knowledge 
of one individual item might be at the command of 100 per cent 
of the children, while in another school only 53 per cent of the class 
might know it. 

This variation between schools was found to exist to even a greater 
degree with reference to the items of health knowledge at the com- 
mand of less than 75 per cent of the group as a whole. For 
example: 81 per cent of the children in one school knew that a 
child should drink from four to eight glasses of water daily, while 
only 37 per cent of the children in another school had that item of 
knowledge at their command. 

On some of the items which we have been led to believe a child 
of the low fifth grade should know, however, all the grades made 
low scores. One of these items is that the best temperature for 
a room in which one is sitting reading is between 65 and 68 degrees. 
Another item which one might have supposed to be at the command 
of the fifth grade and on which all schools consistently made a low 
score, is that the best exercise for fourth grade girls and boys is 
active and outdoor play. 

It is not the purpose of this paper to determine what health knowl- 
edge should or should not be taught in the elementary school pre- 
ceding the high fifth grade, but merely to leave, in passing, the 
question of whether it might not be desirable that the health knowl- 
edge be selected in the light of the child’s health needs during the 
period and on the basis of the value of the knowledge in developing 
habits and attitudes which tend to meet those needs. 

Testing habits and attitudes. An attempt was made to test a few 
of the health habits and attitudes recognized as desirable in children ~ 
of the elementary school. They were tested by questions which 
the children themselves answered. Some of the questions were 
fairly direct while some were so phrased, especially in the attitude 
test, as to make two opposing appeals to the child. 

These experimental tests were used for the first time during the 
study. The fact that their validity and reliability had not been 
established makes them of less value in actually testing the habits 
and attitudes of the children. Rewording many of the questions 
would make them more valid. Perhaps some should be omitted 
entirely. 

The results, however, are interesting, and may be taken for what 
they are worth. To forestall a tendency to overestimation among 


HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS 13 


those who might be actuated by a desire to make a good showing, 
the children were requested to leave all identifying marks off their 
papers. The children undertook the test with a fine spirit and the 
results are indicative of cooperation and a desire to answer honestly. 

Of the 12 habits tested, the children claimed practice in varying 
degree. The figure following the statement of each habit indicates 
the percentage of children tested claiming the practice of that 
special habit. 


1 Reading with the light falling on the page from the left or 
‘from behind. 87 per cent 
This habit was tested by the question: 


Whenever I am reading, I sit so the light falls on my book 
pees from behind me 
ape from my left side 
cca I do not notice direction 
2 Covering the face with a handkerchief when about to sneeze. 
Tested by: 79 per cent 
Whenever I feel like sneezing in school 
rem I cover my face with my handkerchief 
et I turn around 
eee I just sneeze 
3 Eating a regular full breakfast including cereal and milk. 
Tested by: 78 per cent 
During the past week I have eaten a full breakfast including 
cereal and milk. 
ye. if I get up in time 
tis when I felt hungry 
eras every morning 
4 Being in bed 10 hours each night. 75 per cent 
Tested by: 


Last night I was in bed 
a aS five hours 
eae from seven to nine hours 
PS aetae ten hours 


5 Brushing the teeth daily. 73 per cent 
Tested by: 


I brush my teeth thoroughly 
“PBs once or twice a week 
nap not at all 
eee: more than once a day 


14 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 


6 Settling difficulties over playground injuries without quar- 
relling. 71 per cent 


Tested by: 
When a playmate hurts me without meaning to 
sete I settle it without a quarrel 
seatee I tell the teacher 
sie I go home and think about it 
7 Playing outdoors two hours a day. 65 per cent 
Tested by: 
During the past week I have played out of doors 


pikes not at all 
eee all day long 
ee about two hours a day 


8 Drinking at least three glasses of milk daily. 
Tested by: 64 per cent 
In last three meals I drank altogether 
elles three glasses of milk 
es no milk 
badge one glass of milk 
9 Eating at least three kinds of vegetables a day. 
Tested by: 61 per cent 
In the last three meals I have eaten 
Beale more than ten different kinds of vegetables 
ee three or more kinds of vegetables 
aac no vegetable but potatoes 
10 Regular daily bowel movement. 61 per cent 
Tested by: 
During the past week my bowels have moved 
bxcasere once in a while 
are Wik regularly every day 
rok Me three times a day 
11 Safeguarding other children from his cold. 60 per cent 
Tested by: 
The last time I had a cold 
rete I went to school 
Sees I stayed away from other children 


live I played in the yard with some children who came to 
see me 


HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS 15 


12 Sleeping with bedroom window open. 
wide open, 49 per cent 
opened at least an inch or two, 80 per cent 
Tested by: 
Every night last week I slept with my bedroom window 
eet wide open 
2 A closed 
ee raised an inch or two 
If the results of the tests are indicative of the status of these 
particular habits in the low fifth grade, it would appear that the 
children in this grade get the proper amount of sleep for children 
of that age; that they are in the habit of eating breakfast in the 
morning, and including cereal and milk in the breakfast; that they 
try to protect others when they sneeze in school; and that they 
take the precaution when reading to sit so that direction of the 
light is correct. 
The questions that arise are: In the light of the child’s health 
needs 
What habits are desirable? 
Which ones are the whole or partial responsibility of the school ? 
What opportunities does the school offer for their formation? 
What knowledge is essential to strengthen the habits already 
formed or to rationalize the formation of other desirable 
ones ? 
The test on attitudes followed that on habits with the following 
results : 


98 per cent of the children showed a sense of responsibility 
for protecting themselves and others from food known to 
be unclean, as indicated by disposal of a cookie accidentally 
dropped on the floor. 

96 per cent showed an unwillingness to drink water not known 
to be pure, indicated by reaction to a hypothetical situation 
involving a hike, thirst, a creek. 

90 per cent showed a preference for a breakfast of oatmeal, 
prunes, toast and milk to one including beefsteak, potatoes or 
waffles, bacon and coffee. 

87 per cent indicated a preference for milk in a hypothetical 
party where a choice of tea, coffee or milk was given. 

80 per cent indicated an unwillingness to sleep in a room with a 
closed window in a hypothetical case involving staying all 


16 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 


night with a friend who failed to open the window. This 
agrees with the group that raised the bedroom window at least 
an inch or two. 

79 per cent indicated a sense of responsibility for safeguarding 
themselves from communicable disease by staying away from 
a playmate with measles. 

78 per cent indicated an unwillingness to postpone the regular 
morning bowel movement even at the risk of being late for 
school. This is interesting in the light of the fact that only 
61 per cent claimed the habit of a regular daily movement. 

Though 75 per cent of the children claimed to have been in bed 
10 hours the night before the test was given, only 35 per cent of 
them would have gone to bed if they had been given a chance to see 
Charlie Chaplin in the “ Gold Rush ”’ instead. 

The preference for a good breakfast seems to agree with the habit 
of eating one, but the 87 per cent preference for milk does not show 
to any pronounced degree in the milk drinking habit. 


HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS 17 


coe 


SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING INDIVIDUAL 
SCHOOL SYSTEMS 


Ithaca 


Organization and Distribution of Responsibility 

The work is in process of organization under a health education 
committee comprised of a member of the board of education, the 
administrative officers of the school, all the workers directly interested 
in health activities and the special teachers. Those actively concerned 
about the health work are the school physician, who is also health 
officer for the city; a full-time dentist and a dental hygienist and 
two nurses. ‘The health education work is under the supervision of 
the director of physical education and his two assistants. 


Health § ervice 


Health inspection. The health inspection made by the school 
physician is annual. Five minutes are given to each child. The 
child’s blouse is opened at the neck, but not removed. The parents 
and teachers are not present. 

The records are kept in the school in care of the principal. They 
are available to teachers, and contain a complete inventory of defects 
and corrections. Reports are sent to parents and to the physical 
education department. 

Follow-up. ‘The follow-up work after the inspection is done 
usually by mail because the supervising nurse considers the number 
of nurses inadequate for personal follow-up in addition to other 
services expected of them. Dental corrections occur more frequently 
than others. The school has a dental clinic, a memorial to John 
Rumsey. All cases needing attention are cared for here. 

Control of communicable disease. 1 Diphtheria. By Decem- 
ber 1, 1925, 1979 of the 3575 children enrolled in the school had 
been immunized against diphtheria. 

2 Vaccination against smallpox is required of all pupils. 

3 Parents and teachers are furnished with leaflet on symptoms of 
contagious diseases. a 

4 Children are excluded on suspicion by the principal, and all 
children who have been so excluded, or who have been sick or absent 
because some one in the home has been sick, are readmitted to school 
by the school physician. 

Special study. With the cooperation of the local medical 
association, a study was made during the year 1924-25 of the 


18 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

prevalence of enlarged thyroids in the school. Results showed the 
condition in 52 per cent of the girls and 26 per cent of boys. There 
were 3155 children examined. A treatment clinic is planned for this. 


Johnson City 
Organization and Distribution of Responsibility 
The health work in Johnson City is organized for health service 
mainly, and is under the supervision of the school nurse. The school 
physician, on half time for examination purposes, is also half-time 
health officer for the city. The school system also has a full-time 
dental hygienist and provides clerical assistance for the nurse. 


Health Service 


Health inspection. The health inspection is made on school 
entrance and in grades 3 and 5. It is made by the school physician. 
Five minutes are given to the inspection of each child who is not 
stripped. A thorough examination is given to suspicious cases. 
The parents are seldom present during the examination. Some- 
times the teachers are present. The records are kept in the nurse’s 
office in each school, are available to the teacher, and contain a com- 
plete inventory of defects, also a record of corrections made. <A 
report is sent to each home and to the physical education department. 
The report to the home is followed by a visit of the school nurse. 


Follow-up. ‘The responsibility for the follow-up work of the 
examination rests with the nurse. The records showed 80 to 90 per 
cent of defects removed during the past year. 


Clinical facilities and provision for special groups. ‘The school 
conducts a weekly dental clinic to which the dental hygienist refers 
children needing care. The local board of health conducts tuber- 
culosis and venereal clinics weekly, and the State Department of 
Health holds an orthopedic clinic once a month. The local hospital 
through the influence of the school physician cares for many of the 
indigent operatives not otherwise provided for. 

The Endicott-Johnson Company, shoe manufacturers, providing 
employment for over 50 per cent of the residents, pays for the treat- 
ment of members of the families of their employees. The Broome 
County Humane Society conducts a summer camp for tuberculosis 
contacts. Fourteen children from Johnson City were cared for in 
the camp last summer. 

In the past the Endicott-Johnson Company has furnished milk to 
the malnourished cases in school, but beginning this year there is an 
effort to have the children buy their own milk. 


HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS 19 


Control of communicable diseases. With the consent of their 
parents, 60 per cent of the school children have been immunized 
against diphtheria. 

The town had an epidemic of smallpox last year. As a result, 
75 per cent of the school children were vaccinated, although the law 
does not require vaccination in a place of that size. The teachers 
inspect the children daily for signs of communicable diseases and 
refer all suspicious cases to the nurse for exclusion. Children who 
have been absent from school because of illness are readmitted by 
the health officer or the nurse. 

Community facilities for health. The Endicott-Johnson Com- 
pany furnishes three beautiful playgrounds, well equipped, having 
tennis courts and swimming pools. They are utilized by the schools 
during the summer and after school hours. Their location is such 
that use during the day is not convenient. The company provides 
playground supervisors. 

The company also has furnished a fine community house which 
is utilized by high school groups of girls and boys for their social 
affairs. The house is under good supervision. 

In connection with the community house is a well-stocked, well- 
arranged library for both adults and children. The children’s read- 
ing room is open when school is not in session. A trained children’s 
librarian is in charge. Some good examples of art, statuary and 
painting are to be found in the library and community house. 

Health education. The responsibility for health education 
has not been definitely placed and though all schools adhere to the 
state syllabus, the emphasis depends upon the interest of the indi- 
vidual teacher or school principal. The school nurse has stimulated 
a lively interest in health in some of the schools and hopes to induce 
all the principals to assume their responsibility toward the subject. 


Elmira 
Organization and Distribution of Responsibility 


Three part-time physicians, working under the direction of Doctor 
Fudge, also on part time, take care of all the physical examinations. 
Doctor Harding of the State Reformatory spends one-half day each 
week in the schools examining mental and behavior cases and keeping 
in touch with cases previously examined. Three full-time nurses 
under the direction of a supervisory nurse work with the doctors. 
One full-time dental hygienist works in the school. 


20 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 


The responsibility for the health teaching has recently been trans- 
ferred to the supervisor of elementary grades, who works with an 
advisory committee in inauguration of the new course of study in 
health, adopted this year. 


Health Service 


Health inspection. ‘The children are given a health inspection 
annually. Five minutes is the average time spent on the child. The 
child is not stripped. The parents and teachers are not present 
during the examination. 

The records are kept in the school attended by the child, under the 
care of the principal, and are available to the teacher. They contain 
a complete inventory of defects and corrections. Reports are sent 
to the parents and to the physical education department. 


Follow-up. ‘The final responsibility for follow-up work rests 
with the nurses, but the physical education department is taking its 
share. About 60 per cent of the defects were corrected last year. 

The school conducts eye, ear, nose and throat clinics for the 
indigent, and the dental association has a clinic in which dental care 
is given for those who can not afford to pay for the service. 

The State Department of Health conducts an orthopedic clinic once 
a month and the Tuberculosis Association, in cooperation with the 
county, holds a tuberculosis clinic weekly. 


Provision for special groups. The tuberculosis contacts are 
cared for in a preventorium on a farm at the edge of the city. 
Twenty-three children were living at the farm when the visit was 
made. ‘The public school system furnishes school equipment and 
provides a teacher for the children. The doctor and nurse call daily. 

Milk is served daily to all children 10 per cent underweight. 

The county defrays the expense of a summer camp for all tuber- 
culosis contacts among the children. 

Control of communicable diseases. An attempt was being 
made to have all children under ten years immunized against diph- 
theria by the close of the first semester of the school year. Vaccina- 
tion is not required by law in cities the size of Elmira but it is 
encouraged in all schools. 

Incidental health inspection is made by the teachers, who refer 
suspicious cases to the principal or nurse. Either principal or nurse 
may exclude from school a child with suspicious signs. No child 
who has been absent from school may be readmitted except on rec- 
ommendation of the school doctor who holds daily office hours for 
that purpose in the school administration suite. 


HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS Zt 


Health service to teachers and janitors. For the past three 
years the teachers of this school system have been examined and 
advised regarding their own health. The superintendent states that 
this service has resulted in an increased appreciation of their own 
health possibilities and a definite interest on the part of teachers in 
the health of the school as a whole. He believes it has been a help 
in securing a proper adjustment of the teacher to her work. 

The service has recently been extended to the janitors with the 
result that there is among them a more favorable and helpful attitude 
towards the health program of the school. 

Community facilities for health. The Community Service 
Recreation Committee and Park Board, a semi-official organization, 
provides supervised playgrounds for the city. The playgrounds are 
utilized by the public schools. 

The Parent-Teacher Association furnishes the milk for the mal- 
nourished children. The Child Welfare Organization provides pre- 
school clinics. The local hospital gives free care for seriously 
malnourished children in order that their student nurses may have 
the benefit of training in that field. The Visiting Nurses Associa- 
tion gives bedside care to all school cases in need of it. 

Achievement clubs among the school children organized by Rufus 
Stanley, a local philanthropist, stresses health habits as some of the 
important achievements. 

The Rotary Club has equipped and sponsers a Reconstruction 
Home for Crippled Children. The public school system furnishes 
equipment and a teacher for the home. 

The newspapers of the city furnish special space for all school 
activities and have been helpful in disseminating health knowledge. 


Health Education 


The responsibility for direction of the work rests upon the ele- 
mentary school supervisor. Throughout the elementary school a 
definite time is set aside each week for instruction in health. A new 
course of study in health was constructed this year. The emphasis 
is on health habits. An effort is being made to help the classroom 
teacher to meet her responsibility in habit formation. 

Home cooperation. The cooperation of the home is secured 
through the Parent-Teacher Association, which, according to the 
administrative officers, forms a strong bond between the school and 
the Elmira home. It is to be used to promote the formation of the 
health habits outlined in the new course of study. 


a7 


Oz THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 


Binghamton 
Organization and Distribution of Responsibility 


In Binghamton a coordinated plan is in operation. All the health 
activities are included in the department of health education. The 
director is Effie Knowlton, a former school principal. The distribu- 
tion of responsibilities is as follows: 


Activities mcluded Staff 

1 Medical Doctor Sears, Director 
Medical examination Three part-time physicians 
Medical service Part-time eye, nose and throat 

specialist 

Dental service Part-time dentist 
Oral hygiene Two full-time dental hygienists 
Nursing Six full-time nurses 

2 Physical education Six full-time supervisors 

3 Nutrition One full-time nutrition specialist 


Health Service 


Health examination. A complete medical examination is 
given to each child on school entrance. The annual medical inspection 
is this year being replaced by a more thorough examination to be 
repeated at stated intervals throughout the elementary school period. 
The child is stripped to the waist. From 12 to 15 minutes are 
devoted to the examination of each child. The parents are welcome, 
though not always present. The child’s teacher is not present at the 
examination. 

The examination records contain a complete inventory of the 
child’s physical defects together with the examiner’s recommendations 
and corrections made. They are kept in the office of the director 
where they are available to the nurses and where the child’s teacher 
may refer to them. 

Reports are sent to the parents, the physical education department 
and the child’s teacher. 

Follow-up. esponsibility. The responsibility for the follow-up 
work rests with the school nurse. The physical education depart- 
ment assumes its share of the corrections that fall within that field, 
and the teachers assist in promoting an understanding of the situation 
in the home. Superintendent Daniel J. Kelley and Miss Knowlton, 
director of health education, state that the number of uncorrected 
defects is negligible. 


HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS eS 


Clinical facilities. a The school conducts orthopedic, eye, ear, nose 
and throat, dental and dental hygiene clinics of its own, and also 
utilizes the board of health clinics, tuberculosis clinic, the orthopedic, 
the eye, ear, nose and throat clinics of the Humane Society. 

b The state orthopedic specialist and state psychiatrist conduct 
monthly clinics. 

Control of communicable disease. ‘The teachers conduct daily 
health inspection of the children to catch early signs of communicable 
disease. Suspicious cases are referred to the nurse. 

No child who has been absent from school can be readmitted except 
by the scheol doctor. Doctor Sears believes that this ruling which 
applies to all absences is responsible for the lack of epidemics in the 
schools. 

Vaccination against smallpox is required of all children in the 
schools. With the consent of the parents an increasing number of 
children are being immunized against diphtheria. 


Provision for special groups. The school conducts a special 
class for the crippled children who are transported to and from 
school by bus. Two rooms are set aside for them and two teachers 
are in charge. 

The Humane Society conducts a summer camp for pretuberculous 
children. Last summer 25 Binghamton school children had the 
advantage of the camp. 

A well-planned and well-equipped open air school for pretubercu- 
lous and malnourished children is conducted on the roof of one of 
the new buildings. Twenty-two children are enrolled. The doctor 
and nurse visit this school daily. 

Milk lunches are served in all the schools to the malnourished 
children. , 


Community facilities for health promotion. The Broome 


County Humane Society conducts well baby clinics in five of the 
schools. Volunteer medical services are utilized. 


The Civic Club conducts a preschool clinic in one of the schools. 


Health Education 
Elementary school. The supervisor of nutrition is responsible 
for the direction of the work. — 
The objective of health education in the elementary school is habit 
formation, as outlined in the New York syllabus. 
A definite time is set aside on the program of each grade in the 
elementary school for health teaching, daily inspection for health 


24 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 


habits and one period a week for hygiene and one 30-minute period 
a week for nutrition. 

Last spring a health habit test was given the fifth grade. Another 
test will be given next spring to measure progress. Oral tests were 
used. 

High school. Definite provision for direct health instruction 
has been made in the high school in biology, during the freshman 
year, and in the weekly talks on hygiene by the physical education 
supervisors. The athletic squads have regulations requiring strict 
adherence to certain health habits. Since it is considered an honor 
to belong to the squads the habits are adhered to. Superintendent 
Kelly says that all the freshmen, most of the sophomores and a large 
percentage of upper class men belong. 

Home cooperation. ‘The medium for home cooperation is the 
Parent-Teacher Association, which is a strong organization in Bing- 
hamton. In the elementary school an attempt is made to keep the 
classroom teacher in close touch with the homes of the children under 
her care. In the high school counselors are appointed for every 20 
pupils. These counselors are expected to keep in close touch with 
homes of their students. Superintendent Kelly considers their work 
very effective. 

Syracuse 


Organization and Distribution of Responsibility 


The health activities are organized through the cooperative efforts 
of the school board, the board of health and the Milbank Memorial 
Fund. The staff consists of a director of health supervision of 
school children and a corps of medical examiners, dentists and school 
nurses together with a director of health education for the school. 


Health Service 


Health examination. The examination is made annually by 
a physician. Fifteen minutes are devoted to each child, who is 
stripped to the waist. Sometimes the teacher is present at the exam- 
ination, and the parent is encouraged to be present. 

The records contain a complete inventory of all physical defects 
with recommendation and corrections, made. Duplicate records are 
kept in each school and are available for the teacher. Reports are 
sent to parents. 

Follow-up. ‘The responsibility for the follow-up work rests 
with the school physicians and the school nurses. Of the total num- 
ber of physical defects listed since the beginning of the school year 


HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS 25 


1922-23, more than two-thirds had been corrected before Sep- 
tember 1925. 

The Syracuse Health Demonstration, cooperatively conducted by 
the local board of heath and the Milbank Memorial Fund, furnishes 
clinical facilities for all treatments shown necessary by the physical 
examination. 


Control of communicable disease. The program for control 
of communicable diseases includes: 

1 Daily health inspection by classroom teacher for early signs 
of communicable disease. 

2 Inspection by school physician when any suspicious case is 
found by the teacher. 

3 The exclusion from classroom of all suspicious cases, and a 
ruling that all absentees are to be readmitted through the school 
physician. 

4 Immunization. 

a Vaccination against smallpox is required. 
b The school physicians have immunized 2000 children against 
diphtheria. 


5 Absences from school because of contagious diseases have been 
reduced one-third in the past two years. 


Provision for special groups. In an attempt to meet the 
needs of the special groups, the school system provides : 


1 Milk lunches for all undernourished children. 

2 Opportunity classes for atypical children. 

3 Classes for crippled children. 

4 An open air school for the pretuberculous children. 

5 Sight conservation classes. 

6 Lip reading classes for the deaf. 

7 Treatment for goiter group. 

Community facilities for health in Syracuse. These include: 

1 Playgrounds with supervisors in charge. 

2 The County Tuberculosis Association conducts an educational 
campaign for general health throughout the year and provides a 
preventorium for pretuberculous children. 

3 The Syracuse Health Demonstration offers physical examina- 
tions to adults and carries on a general health program educational 
in character. 

Health Education 

This work is organized and supervised by the director of health 

instruction furnished to the schools by the Milbank Memorial Fund. 


26 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 


The New York syllabus is supplemented by a suggestive course of 
study. A definite time is set aside each week in each grade of the 
elementary school for health instruction with emphasis on habits 
and attitudes. Health habit inspection is conducted by health clubs 
organized in each of the intermediate grades. In the primary grades 
the teacher conducts the inspection. 


Utica 
Organization and. Distribution of Responsibility 


The health service is rendered by two half-time physicians and 
two full-time nurses. The health education work is left to the 
direction of the principals of the different schools. 


Health Service 


Medical inspection. ‘The medical inspection is made by the 
physician on the child’s entrance to school, and every three years 
thereafter throughout the elementary school. Five minutes are given 
to the child, who is not undressed. Neither parent nor teacher is 
present. ; 

The defect found is written on a school blank provided for the 
purpose. ‘The corrections are not always recorded. ‘The records are 
kept in the classroom. The classroom teacher is responsible for 
them. Reports are made to the parent. 7 

The Utica Dispensary furnishes clinical facilities for treatment 
of all cases. Clinics include: (1) dental, (2) medical, (3) surgical, 
(4) refraction, (5) skin, (6) tonsil, (7) tuberculosis, (8) venereal, 
where economic status of the parent does not permit the expense. 
The nurses’ report for the year 1924-25 indicated that the majority 
of the defects were removed. 


Health Education 
The schools follow the New York State syllabus. The superin- 
tendent believes that good classroom teaching includes bringing out 
the chief health values in all subjects. 


Schenectady 
Organization and Distribution of Responsibility 


The health activities are organized mainly for health service and 
are under the direction of the chief medical inspector. 

The staff consists of the chief medical inspector, three part-time 
school physicians, 16 school nurses, one orthopedic worker, one 
nutritionist, who is responsible for the direction of the health educa- 


HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS ne, 


tion, one psychometric examiner, four part-time dentists, one part- 
time specialist on vision. 
Health Service 


Health inspection. The medical inspection is annual and is 
made by the school physician. The records are kept in the school 
building and are available for the teacher. Reports are sent to the 
parent and to the physical education department. 


Follow-up. The responsibility for the follow-up work rests 
upon the school nurse. The school provides dental care and care 
for defective vision for those who can not afford the expense. No 
data were secured on the number of defects corrected. 


Provision for special groups. ‘This service includes: 


1 A special school for atypical children. 

2 Two open air schools for pretuberculous cases. 

Program for control of communicable disease. This includes: 

1 Classroom inspection by the nurse. 

2 Exclusion by the school physician and readmission of absentees 
through the same office. | 

3 Vaccination against smallpox is required of all children. 

Health Education 

This year an attempt has been made to organize the health educa- 
tion activities. The nutritionist has direction of the work. The 
New York syllabus has been followed, and in one school at least 
correlation was evident throughout. 


Rochester 
Organization and Distribution of Responsibility 

The work of physical education and of health education proper 
is organized into one department known as health education. The 
staff includes a director, who was formerly a director of physical 
education, an associate director responsible for the supervision of 
the health teaching, two supervisors of physical education and health 
instruction and four supervising or helping teachers. 

The medical inspection and follow-up work by the nurses is under 
the direction of the city health bureau. The department of health 
education cooperates in the removal of physical defects. 


Health Service 
Medical inspection and follow-up. The medical inspection of 
school children is an annual affair. Four physicians from the city 
’ health bureau and corps of nurses work in a group. Not more than 


28 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 


five minutes are given to a child, who is not stripped. Neither 
parent nor teacher are present. 

The records are kept in the office of the city health bureau and 
contain an inventory of defects found together with corrections. 
Reports are made to the parents and the schools. 

The nurses are responsible for the follow-up work. The health 
education teachers cooperate in correction of defects. The report of 
the health bureau for 1924 shows a high percentage of defects 
corrected. 

Four large dispensaries offer clinical facilities for correction of 
defects. They are 


1 Rochester Dental Dispensary. Here, too, is a tonsilectomy clinic 
where most of the tonsils and adenoids are removed. 

2 The Baden Street Dispensary for the treatment of the general | 
physical defects of school children. 

3 Three hospitals in the city have dispensaries which are at the 
service of the city health bureau for correction of defects of school 
children. 

4 The school conducts an ear clinic and an orthopedic clinic. 


Provision for special groups. This service includes: 


1 An open air school for pretuberculous cases. 

2 Nutrition classes, weekly, conducted for children 7-10 per cent 
underweight (Emerson plan). 

3 School for crippled children. 

4 The serving of milk to the underweight children. 


Program for control of communicable disease. ‘This includes: 


1 Daily inspection by classroom teachers, who refer all suspicious 
cases to the nurse. 

2 Exclusion by the district physician and follow-up work of 
suspicious cases by the nurse. 

3 Vaccination against smallpox is required of all school children. 

4 Immunization against diphtheria is growing in popularity. 


Health Education 


This work is under the supervision of the associate director of 
health education. The objectives are health knowledge and health 
habits. A definite course of study is provided. Twenty minutes a 
week in the first, second and third grades, and thirty minutes weekly 
in grades +8 are devoted to hygiene instruction. Five minutes 
daily are given by the classroom teacher to routine health inspection 
for habit formation and for early signs of communicable disease. ~ 


HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS 29 


Relaxation drills are conducted three times daily in the elementary 
school and four times daily in the high school. Ten minutes a day 
are spent in game instruction in each grade in the elementary school. 

In four schools experiments in a modified health education pro- 
gram are in progress. In these schools an environment is provided 
which approximates the desirable from the health standpoint. In 
addition to this, special attention is given to the health needs of the 
individual child. A study also is in progress in the school system 
on the relation of health to absence from school. 


Jamestown ‘ 
Organization and Distribution of Authority 
The health work of Jamestown is organized from the standpoint 
of health service. The staff consists of a full-time school physician, 
a part-time dentist, two dental hygienists and two nurses. The 
school physician directs the work. 


Health Service 


Health examinations. The medical examinations are made 
annually by the school physician. The child is stripped. Fifteen 
minutes are given to the first examination. When the child is re- 
examined, less time is devoted to the normal child and more to the 
abnormal one. ‘The principal of the school is usually present at the 
examination. Sometimes the teacher is also present. The fact that 
the examination schedule is irregular makes it difficult for the 
parents to attend. 

The records are kept in the office of the principal and are avail- 
able to the teacher. Reports are sent to parents and to the physical 
education department. The records contain an inventory of defects 
together with recommendations and corrections. 

The teachers are beginning to ask for physical examinations for 
themselves. 


Follow-up. The school physician directs the follow-up work 
of the nurses and also makes home calls. The eye, ear, nose and 
throat clinic of the V. N. A. is utilized, as are also the tuberculosis 
clinic of the city health department, the behavior clinic of the State 
Department of Health, and the sight conservation clinic of the local 
Sight Conservation Commission. The part-time dentist holds a 
clinic two half-days a week for care of those unable to pay for the 
service needed. Milk is furnished by the school to all children at 
least 10 per cent underweight. The V. N. A. and the Associated 
Charities hospitalize all indigent cases. 


30 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 


Control of communicable disease. The teachers inspect pupils 
daily for early signs of communicable disease and refer all suspects 
to the nurse, who follows them up at once. 

The city health department furnishes the school physician each 
morning with a list of children with communicable diseases, together 
with the names of all contacts. In return the school physician fur- 
nishes the city health department with a list of immunes for each 
disease. 

Cultures are taken of all sore throats. Children with running 
noses are excluded from school. 

All absentees are readmitted to school through the school physician. 

Vaccination is not required in cities the size of Jamestown, and 
is not popular in the city. Immunization against diphtheria was to 
begin directly after the 1925 Christmas holidays. 

Community facilities for health. The city has a wide awake 
health department that carries on a good program for control of 
communicable disease. The department carries on a vigorous cam- 
paign to improve the milk supply. All the cattle furnishing milk 
to Jamestown are tuberculin tested, and about 30 per cent of the milk 
consumed by the “tity is pasteurized. An effort to secure 100 per 
cent pasteurization is under way. 

The Visiting Nurse Association conducts a health center from 
which four nurses are sent out to give bedside care to the sick. They 
conduct. six ‘clinics at which medical men volunteer their services. 
These clinics are as follows: 


1 Sick children — weekly 

2 Eye, ear, nose and throat — biweekly 
3 Prenatal — biweekly 

4 Mental (state psychiatrist) — monthly 
5 Child feeding — weekly 

6 Crippled children — monthly 


The Charities Aid Society assists in hospitalizing children in need 
of care. It also furnishes milk and supplements the diet in the home 
where the nutritional status of the child warrants it and where the 
parents’ or mothers’ club has not assumed the responsibility. 

Playgrounds. ‘‘The Hundred Acre Tract” and old-time city 
picnic ground, now reduced to 52 acres, is owned by a semiofficial 
committee and used for a city park and playground. It is available 
to the schools for excursions, play and picnics. 

The city furnishes supervisors for the school playgrounds in the 
summer. 


9° 


4, 


HEALTH EDUCATION IN NINE SCHOOL SYSTEMS 31 


Health Education 

Elementary school. The responsibility rests with the prin- 
cipals of the various schools. Interest is stimulated by the school 
physician. The school system follows the New York syllabus and 
health habit inspection is conducted daily by the classroom teacher. 

Junior high school. Health education in the junior high 
school is a part of the other subjects except in the seventh grade 
where hygiene is taught; in the eighth grade the health work is in 
general science; in the ninth grade it is in the biology course. 


THE LIBRARY p, 7 
SEP 1 ¢ 4999 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 


30112 


